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The bacterial cell wall represents a very complex structure disconnecting the interior of single-cell organisms from the environment, thus protecting, but also enabling, them to interact with the surrounding milieu and to exchange both substances and information. Knowledge of the biochemistry of the cell wall (components) and the genetic background helps to understand their significance with regard to microbiology and immunology of bacteria. This book represents the second edition of a publication which was presented nearly 20 years ago in the German language (Die bakterielle Zellwand). Since that time our knowledge in this field has been significantly enlarged. Therefore, the manuscript had to be completely revised and updated. To maintain both the size and the introductory character of the book at least to a great extent, the authors had to restrict the presented material to that which appears basic and most important. This requirement must inevitably bring about many subjective factors. As pointed out in the first edition, the term cell wall was not taken too strictly. Since the constituents located outside the cytoplasmic membrane are frequently difficult to divide in structure, localisation, and/or function into true cell wall components and supplementary substances, they are all at least briefly mentioned.
List of contents
1 Introduction.- 2 The Outer Membrane of the Gram-Negative Bacteria and their Components.- 3 Periplasmic Space and Rigid Layer.- 4 Further Cell Wall Components of Gram-Positive Bacteria.- 5 Cell Wall Components of Archaea.- 6 Components Outside the Cell Wall.- 7 Cell Wall Models.- 8 Cell Wall Functions.- Uncommon Abbreviations.
Summary
The bacterial cell wall represents a very complex structure disconnecting the interior of single-cell organisms from the environment, thus protecting, but also enabling, them to interact with the surrounding milieu and to exchange both substances and information. Knowledge of the biochemistry of the cell wall (components) and the genetic background helps to understand their significance with regard to microbiology and immunology of bacteria. This book represents the second edition of a publication which was presented nearly 20 years ago in the German language (Die bakterielle Zellwand). Since that time our knowledge in this field has been significantly enlarged. Therefore, the manuscript had to be completely revised and updated. To maintain both the size and the introductory character of the book at least to a great extent, the authors had to restrict the presented material to that which appears basic and most important. This requirement must inevitably bring about many subjective factors. As pointed out in the first edition, the term cell wall was not taken too strictly. Since the constituents located outside the cytoplasmic membrane are frequently difficult to divide in structure, localisation, and/or function into true cell wall components and supplementary substances, they are all at least briefly mentioned.
Additional text
From the reviews of the first edition:
"This book is an absolute must for all those working on morphology, chemistry, functions, etc. of cell walls, it is an introduction as well as a source book." (W. Koehler, International Journal of Medical Microbiology, Vol. 294, 2004)
"This is a new edition of a book originally published only in German several years ago. There are few books on bacterial cell walls … . This will, therefore, inevitably be an important sourcebook … . This is a worthy book, and a valuable addition to a very limited area of publication." (Ian Hancock, Sfam News, Vol. 3 (3), 2002)
Report
From the reviews of the first edition:
"This book is an absolute must for all those working on morphology, chemistry, functions, etc. of cell walls, it is an introduction as well as a source book." (W. Koehler, International Journal of Medical Microbiology, Vol. 294, 2004)
"This is a new edition of a book originally published only in German several years ago. There are few books on bacterial cell walls ... . This will, therefore, inevitably be an important sourcebook ... . This is a worthy book, and a valuable addition to a very limited area of publication." (Ian Hancock, Sfam News, Vol. 3 (3), 2002)
